I Came To See Usher: Apple’s Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show

Less than four months prior to the 2024 Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show, it was announced that Usher Raymond IV would headline the event. With a string of successful shows under his belt, the 45-year-old superstar aimed to deliver a memorable performance that would leave a lasting impact.
While social media polls emerged, asking viewers to pick sides: were they rooting for the 49ers, the Chiefs, or were they simply Team Usher? Surprisingly, a significant portion of respondents aligned themselves with Team Usher, showcasing a notable diversion of interest from the game to the halftime entertainment. “The Chiefs & the 49ers came to the Usher Concert or better yet, The Usher Bowl,” jokingly expressed by the radio show, The Breakfast Club.
Regardless of traditional football enthusiasts’ preferences, Usher’s magnetic presence and star-studded lineup of guest performers undeniably stole the spotlight. The seamless blend of his iconic hits, along with surprise appearances, created a memorable experience that resonated with viewers far beyond the confines of the football field.
Irrespective of whether one is a sports enthusiast or not, both media critics and members of the Usher Fan Club eagerly awaited the conclusion of the second half for the highly anticipated 13-minute show. Despite Pepsi relinquishing their sponsorship rights to Apple Music in 2022, Usher and his team spared no effort. Apple Music, being their platform of choice, even released a seven-minute short film titled “Where’s Usher?” featuring well-known black actors and artists such as Taraji P. Henson, Ludacris, Lil Jon, and Wesley Snipes, all contributing to the buildup of the Halftime Show.
Be sure to give it a watch!
The Apple sponsored Halftime show kicked off a disclaimer displaying Rated U: “May cause singing, dancing, sweating, gyrating, and possible relationship issues.”
Immediately you get a snippet of vocal acoustics from Usher’s “My Way” and Usher’s fifth and final single from Confessions with “Caught Up,” wearing his custom off white Dolce and Gabbana fit paying homage to Vegas culture. Visually you get a taste of Vegas show girls & guys, acrobatic dancers utilizing the field wearing uniquely designed customs leading into song, “U Don’t Have To Call.”
Usher interestingly shoutout his mom during the down beat stating, “Hey Mama, we made it..” opening into a snippet of “Superstar.” Now, by this point, the crowd is still digesting Usher’s back to back classics as they begin to wake the stadium with their roars, as two members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. join the headliner on stage with the Sonic Boom of the South, Jackson State University’s marching band, grooving the field to his infamous, “Love In This Club.”
Usher then passed the spotlight to Grammy award-winning Alicia Keys, who mesmerized the audience with her rendition of her 2003 classic, “If I Ain’t Got You.” The familiar duo captivated viewers with a close and intimate performance of “My Boo.” This sparked uproar among X users (formerly known as Twitter), particularly due to Usher’s seemingly affectionate interaction with Keys, especially amidst rumors of obtaining a marriage license with his girlfriend, Jenn Goicoechea, just days before the live performance, as reported by People.com.
Jermaine Dupri made a special appearance, igniting the viewers excitement that “Confessions Part II,” celebrates 20 years! Usher continued to mesmerize the audience, seamlessly transitioning into “Let It Burn” as he stood atop a digital LED stage showcased as an antique clock that caught on fire. Talk about intentional!
Sweating profusely, Usher began removing his crystal Dolce and Gabbana vest eventually revealing his toned physique. The crowd erupted in cheers as he flawlessly performed the “infamous Usher glitch,” leaving everyone in awe of his unmatched talent.
The surprises didn’t end there, as H.E.R joined Usher on stage, embracing her instrumental musicality with her bass guitar to “You Got It Bad / Bad Girl.” The stadium’s energy reached louder volume as Usher made a quick and final change skating onto the stage for his skate ensemble to the performance of “OMG” with artist, Will.I.Am.
Rapper Lil Jon even made a surprise appearance from the crowd with a transition from “Turn Down For What,” which featured people being launched into the air, no harness in sight! Seconds later, Usher’s pop-hit “Yeah!” didn’t hold back the dance lituation on the stage—Usher and his residency ensemble switched from skates to tennis shoes within 25 seconds (and yes, we counted)!
Rapper Ludacris joined the stage with his verse to the song as the crowd went crazy! The stage went from Vegas Residency to South Atlanta real quick, with girls swinging on stripper poles to the stadium crunking to Lil Jon’s, “Get Low.” With just one minute to spare in the halftime show, JSU’s marching band spelled out U-S-H-E-R as the mega-star closed out the show by “turning the whole world into the A!”